Robert Amponsah, Ed.D., is the Assistant Dean for Strategic Programs in the at 国产原创. His work focuses on shaping student experiences beyond the classroom by designing co-curricular programs that connect computing, leadership, and interdisciplinary career pathways.
In his role, Amponsah oversees marketing and communications for the CCC, helping define its mission and articulate its value to students, faculty, and industry partners. He also leads initiatives related to student programs and experiential learning, supporting students from their first year to career readiness.
Amponsah earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in electrical engineering from 国产原创. While initially trained as an engineer, he has since pursued systems engineering, interdisciplinary research, and applied work that connects engineering with music and acoustics. His professional experience includes work in musical acoustics and industry applications such as noise-reduction technologies.
滨苍听补听conversation听with听Vanderbilt听Data听Science听Minor听Communications听Intern Avery Tong听(鈥�27), he discussed the role of co-curricular learning, interdisciplinary pathways, and career preparation in computing education.
What role does co-curricular learning play in computing education?
鈥淐o-curricular programs create opportunities to build skills that traditional coursework alone often cannot鈥攖hings like leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation. While students gain technical knowledge in the classroom, co-curricular experiences allow them to apply that knowledge in real-world contexts.
鈥淲hether it鈥檚 through mentorship, site visits, hackathons, or industry exposure, students can start to see how concepts like generative AI or data science apply across different fields such as manufacturing, retail, or healthcare. These experiences help students build perspective and confidence as they prepare for the workplace.鈥�
What are some of the most exciting programs you are developing for students?
鈥淥ne program we鈥檝e launched is called Plot Twist, a speaker series that brings alumni back to campus to talk about the unexpected paths they took in their careers. The goal is to show students that success doesn鈥檛 always follow a straight line.
鈥淵ou might hear from someone who studied history but went on to start an AI company. By hearing about those twists and turns, students can better understand how interdisciplinary experiences shape careers.
鈥淲e鈥檙e also exploring programs that broaden how students think about careers in computing. Being a computer science or data science student doesn鈥檛 mean you have to become a software engineer. There are opportunities in product management, healthcare, the arts, psychology, and social good鈥攁nd we want students to see those possibilities.鈥�
How do interdisciplinary experiences shape student identity and career paths?
鈥淧ersonally, I started in electrical engineering, but my career evolved into systems engineering and eventually into musical acoustics. That intersection between engineering and music led me to work on noise-reduction headphones at Bose.
鈥淓xposure to interdisciplinary spaces is critical. When students see how biology connects to computing or how the arts intersect with technology, they can discover paths that align with both their interests and competencies.
鈥淥ur goal is to create environments where students can explore these connections and develop an identity that makes sense based on their experiences鈥攏ot just because someone told them what they should do.鈥�
How do you envision co-curricular initiatives connecting with the classroom?
鈥淓xperiential learning is becoming increasingly important. There are opportunities for co-curricular programs to complement classroom instruction through guest speakers, leadership certificates, and career-focused experiences.
鈥淚deally, what happens outside the classroom reinforces what students are learning inside it. That kind of integration can help students better understand how their education connects to real-world applications.鈥�
What advice do you have for students hoping to get the most out of 国产原创鈥檚 co-curricular ecosystem?
鈥淧ut yourself in spaces where you might feel a little uncomfortable. Those moments often drive innovation and personal growth.
鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to try new things鈥攐r to fail. Failure is part of learning. When students push themselves beyond what feels familiar, they expand what they鈥檙e capable of achieving.鈥�